9th Infantry Division (Bangladesh)

9th Infantry Division
Active 20 November 1976 - present
Country  Bangladesh
Allegiance  Bangladesh
Branch  Bangladesh Army
Type Infantry
Size Division
Garrison/HQ Savar Cantonment
Commanders
Current
commander		 Major General Mohammad Akbar Hossain
Notable
commanders		 Major General Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy

The 9th Infantry Division (Nicknamed "The Lightning Division") is a formation of the Bangladesh Army. It's located at Savar in Dhaka district. This is the first infantry division of the Bangladesh Army. This division is the most strategic important formation of the Bangladesh Army as it is entrusted with the responsibility of security of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.

History

9th Infantry Division was raised on 20 November 1976 in Dhaka cantonment as the first division of the Bangladesh Army. The division started life under the command of Major General Mir Shawkat Ali with its headquarters at Sher-e-Bangla Nagor in Dhaka. At the beginning the division had 77th Infantry Brigade, 81st Infantry Brigade and 29th East Bengal Regiment under its command. At that time, the 77th Infantry Brigade was made up of 9th East Bengal Regiment, 13th East Bengal Regiment and 28th East Bengal Regiment and the 81st Infantry Brigade contained 8th East Bengal Regiment, 11th East Bengal Regiment and 27th East Bengal Regiment. The division completed its organizational structure with the induction of 9th Artillery Brigade on 22 March 1976.

On 31 May 1984, the divisional headquarters was permanently moved to Savar Cantonment. On 1 September 1984, 309th infantry brigade was raised under this division and 71st infantry brigade was added to the division on 30 June 1992. At that time, Savar Cantonment, Ghatail Cantonment and Momenshahi Cantonment were under 9th infantry division but on 1 July 1992, the Ghatail and Momenshahi cantonments, along with 309 infantry brigade and 77 infantry brigade, were transferred to the then newly formed 19th Infantry Division.

On 20 September 2013, 99th Composite Brigade was added to the division, made up of 58th East Bengal Regiment, 34th Bangladesh Infantry Regiment and 20th Engineering Construction Battalion, to provide security and support during the construction of Padma Bridge.[1]

Formation

Under the division there are two infantry brigade, one artillery brigade and one composite brigade. Major General Mohammad Akbar Hossain is the current commander of the division.[2]

Combat Arms

  • Infantry:
    • 71 Infantry Brigade (Mechanized)
    • 81 Infantry Brigade
    • 58 East Bengal Regiment
    • 34 Bangladesh Infantry Regiment

Combat support

  • 99 Composite Brigade (Padma Cantonment)
    • 20 Engineer Construction Battalion

References

  1. ↑ "PM inaugurates new composite brigade for Padma bridge". Dhaka Tribune. 2013-09-20. Retrieved 2017-02-18.
  2. ↑ "Changes in top army positions". The Daily Star. 2017-02-17. Archived from the original on 2017-02-17. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
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